Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-11-09
CHAPTER Ii.

Tine siGeri dS4lfS VI 1<a5N s-i4t = AtAN7- AANAr
was a brief pause before the busy life
which rtn its course from steamer day
to steamer day was once more taken up.
In that interval few anxious SPECTATORS
and investors breathed freely, some criti-
cal situation was relieved, or some i'm
pending catastrophe momentarily ayerted.
In pari .cular singular stroke Of good
fortune that morning befell Mr.. Mott.
He not only secured new tenant, tut, as
be sagaciously- believed, introduced into
the Pontiac n counteracting influence to
the subtle destinations OF de Ferrieres.
The new tenant apparently possessed
combination Of business shrewdness and
brusque frankness that strongly impressed
his landlord. "You see, Rosey," said
Mott, complacently describing the inter
view 10 his daughter, "whcn / sorter in
tlmated Ia IL keerless kind o. way that
sugar kettles and hair dye was about
played out cz securities, he Just planked
down the money for two months in ad-
vance. There seq he, that's your Sc
curlty-n0w where's mine' Il reckon
don't hitch on. iardner, SEE i security
what fors' Spose you sell the ship" SEE
he, 'afore the two months Is up. I've heard
that old Sleight vans to buy her Then
you gets back your money seq /. And
lose my room, ser he; not much, old man.
You sign a paper that whoever buys the
ship inside O. two months hez to buy me
ez tenAn, With it; that's on the square
so | sign the paper 1t was mighty cute
in the young Teller, wasn't i.2' he said,
scanning his daughters pretty, puzzled
face q little anXiously; land don't you see
ez amt goin' to sell the Pontiac, it's jest
about ez cute in me, eh2 He's contrac-
tor somewhere around yer, and wants 10
be near his work. SO he takes the room
next to the frenchman, that that ship
captain quit for The mines, and succeeds
materially 10 His chest and things. He's
mighty peart looking, that young Teller,
Rosey-long black mustaches, all his own
color, Rosey-and he's regular high
stopper you bet / reckon he's not only
been gentleman, but ez now Some o.
them contractors are very high tonedH'
81 don't think we have any right to
give him the captains chest, father, " said
Rosey; "there may be some private things
In it. There were some letters and pho
tog-aphs in the hairdye mans trunk that
you gave the photographer"
THAT'S just it, Rosey," returned Alb
ner Mott, with sublime unconsciousness,
photographs and love letters you can't
sell for cash, and don't mind givin' 'em
away II they kin make Teller creature
happy"
But, father have we the right to give
'em away"
They're collateral security, Rosey,"
said her father, grimly. "Co-la-te-ral,"
he continued, emphasizing each syllable
by tapping the fist Of one hand in the
open palm of the other. "Co-ld-te raj is
the word the big business sharps Yer about
call 'em. You cant get round that"
He paused moment, and then, as a new
idea seemed TO he painfully borne in his
round eyes, continued cautiously: WAS
TINT the reason why you wouldn't touch
any Of them dresses from the trunks of
that opcry gal ez skedaddled for Sacra-
mentor And yet them trunks regularly
bought Mt acknowledgement auction, on
spcc-and they didn't realize the cost of
drayage"
4 slight color mounted to Rosey's face.
"No," she said, hastily, mot that Hest
tating moment she then drew softly to
his side, and, placing her arms around his
meek, turned his broad, foolish face
towards her own. Father" she began,
when mother died, would you have liked
anybody to take her trunks and paw
around her things and wear them?'
"When your mother died, just this side
o Sweetwater, Rosey," said Mr.. Mott,
with beaming unconsciousness, "she
hadn't any trunks. | reckon she hadn't
even an extra gown hanging up in the
wagin, 'cept the petticoat ez she had
wrapped around yer. 1t was about ez
much u we could do to skirmish round
with lnJins, alkali and cold, and we
softer forgot to dress for dinner. She
never thought, Rosey, that you and me
would live to be inhabitin' paliss of
real ship. Ef she had she would have
died proud woman"
He turned his small, loving, boar like
eyes upon her as preternaturally limo
cent and trusting companion of Ulysses
might have regarded the Transforming
Circc Rosey turned away with the
fainte,t sigh. The habitual look of alb
stractou returned to her eyes as If she
had once more taken refuge in her own
ideal world. Unfortunately the change
did not escape either the sensitive obser-
walton or the fatuous misconception of
the sacacious parent. Ven he mountin'
few furbelows and lixins, Rosey,
reckon, ez only natural Mebbee yen
have to prink up little now that we've
got a gentleman contractor in the ship.
I'll see what | kin pick up in Montgomery
street" And indeed he succeeded a few
hours later in accomplishing with equal
iufelicity his generous design. When she
returned from her household tasks she
found on her berth a purple velvet bonnet
of extraordinary make, and pair OF
white satin slippers. They'll do for
start off. Rosey," he explained, land l
got EN- at my fggers."
But go out so seldom, father, and
bonnet -
That's so" interrupted Mr.. Mott,
complacently, lit might be jest ez well
for young gal like yer TO appear ez If
she did 80 out. or would 60 out if she
wauted to. 50 you kin be wearin' that
ar headStall kinder like this evening when
the contractors here, ez if you'd jest
come in from a pasear.
Mis-, Rosey did not, however, imme-
dately avail herself of her fathers pur-
chase. hut contented herself with the
usual scarlet ribbon that like a snood con-
fined her brown hair when she returned
TO her tasks The space between the gal
ley and the huiwarks had been her favor
lite resort in summer when not actually
engaged in household work. 1t was row
lightly rooted over with boards and tar
paulin against the winter rain, but still
afforded her IA veranda like space before
the galley door, where she could read or
sew, looking over the bow of the Pontiac
20 the tossing bay or the further range Of
the Contra Costa hills.
Hither Miss Rosey brought the purple
prodigy, partly to please her father, partly
with view Of suhjectiug IL to violent rad
ical changes. But after trying it on be-
fore the tiny mirror in the galley once or
twice, her thoughts wandered away, and
she fell into one of her habitual reveries